The Rangers manager, Ally McCoist, said he was unaware of any formal interest in the striker Nikica Jelavic. Liverpool, Leicester City, Queens Park Rangers, Sunderland, Everton and West Bromwich Albion are among the clubs who have been linked with the Croat. A report immediately before Wednesday's Old Firm game claimed QPR had already submitted an offer for the 26-year-old.

It seems increasingly likely that the former Rapid Vienna player will leave Ibrox next month but McCoist insisted no club has made a move.

"No, certainly not to my knowledge," said the manager in response to a question about whether any bids for Jelavic had been received. "There was a rumour knocking about before the Celtic game. That was all it was.

"I haven't heard anything to confirm or deny that rumour. Nobody has told me that any club has made an offer. I think it was one of the radio stations that mentioned QPR but it was just a rumour."

The QPR manager, Neil Warnock, said: "I won't be commenting on him or anybody else in the transfer window. That is how it is and I will try to get my targets as early as I can."

McCoist denied any suggestion Jelavic could have his head turned by interest from England. The defeat at Celtic Park means Rangers trail their city rivals by two points in the Scottish Premier League.

"It would be a concern if some players were distracted by transfer stories but we certainly hope that's not the case," McCoist said. "We would hope that they would be professional and I'm sure they are. They have a job to do and what will be will be.

"I don't have any worries. I believe my players will stay focused. They have done so over previous transfer windows and I'm sure they will do so again. We all have to pull together. We have had a disappointing couple of weeks but we have to be positive and we will be."

McCoist reiterated his intention to strengthen his attacking options when the transfer window reopens. Rangers scouts have kept a close eye on Championship matches, with strikers in mind.

"We've got one or two players, in an ideal world, we would like to bring in," McCoist said. "We just have to wait to see what happens. We're ready to go if we can go. I'll sit down in the next few days and have a good chat with [the Rangers owner] Craig [Whyte] and see where we are.

"I've gone on record as saying it would be nice for us to strengthen in forward areas and that's still the case. We will have to see where we are and if we are in a position to do that."

Mikael Lustig has arrived at Celtic from Rosenborg. The 25-year-old Sweden defender agreed a three-and-a-half year contract in November.